Method of producing hydrogen, and rendering a contaminated biomass inert

ABSTRACT

A method for rendering a contaminated biomass inert includes providing a first composition; providing a second composition; reacting the first and second compositions together to form an alkaline hydroxide; providing a contaminated biomass and reacting the alkaline hydroxide with the contaminated biomass to render the contaminated biomass inert and further produce hydrogen gas, and a byproduct which includes the first composition.

RELATED APPLICATION DATA

This application is a Continuation-in-Part of and claims priority fromU.S. application Ser. No. 10/778,788, and which was filed on Feb. 13,2004.

GOVERNMENT RIGHTS

The United States Government has certain rights in this inventionpursuant to Contract No. DE-AC07-05ID14517 between the United StatesDepartment of Energy and Battelle Energy Alliance, LLC.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method of producing hydrogen, andrendering a contaminated biomass inert, and more specifically to amethod which, in a first aspect, produces a chemical hydride, which,when reacted with a liquid, produces hydrogen gas, and a byproduct,which is then later reused, or recycled to form an additional chemicalhydride which is used in later reactions; and to a second aspect of thesame method which utilizes an alkaline hydroxide to render acontaminated biomass inert.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The prior art is replete with numerous examples of methods and devices,and various means, for storing and generating hydrogen, and later usingthat same hydrogen for assorted industrial applications such as a fuelin various electrochemical devices like fuel cells, or which further canbe consumed in internal combustion engines of various overland vehicles.

As a general matter, current methods of producing hydrogen have beenviewed by most researchers as being expensive and very energy intensive.It has long been known that hydrogen can be produced from a chemicalreaction of an alkali metal with water and various arrangements such aswhat is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,728,864 have been devised to enclose areactive material, such as an alkali metal, or metal hydride, thatwhich, upon exposure to water, produces hydrogen as a product of thatreaction.

While the advantages of using a fuel such as hydrogen to replace fossilfuel as a primary energy source are many, no single approach has emergedwhich will provide a convenient means whereby hydrogen can beeconomically produced in a form, whether gaseous, or liquified, whichmakes it useful in the applications noted above. Still further, themethods currently disclosed in the prior art of producing usefulchemical hydrides for the methodology discussed above, and which couldpotentially be used to implement, at least in part, a hydrogeninfrastructure has remained elusive. Moreover, there remains no oneconvenient method which could be used to render a large amount ofcontaminated biomass inert.

Therefore a method which addresses these and other perceivedshortcomings in the prior art teachings and practices, and which is alsouseful for rendering a biomass inert is the subject matter of thepresent application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a method for renderinga contaminated biomass inert which includes providing a firstcomposition; providing a second composition; reacting the first andsecond compositions together to form an alkaline hydroxide; providing acontaminated biomass and reacting the alkaline hydroxide with thecontaminated biomass to render the contaminated biomass inert andfurther produce hydrogen gas, and a byproduct which includes the firstcomposition.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method forrendering a contaminated biomass inert which includes providing a sourceof a contaminated biomass; providing a source of an alkaline hydroxide,and chemically reacting the contaminated biomass with the alkalinehydroxide to render the contaminated biomass inert and to furtherproduce an alkaline metal, and a first gas; and combusting the first gasto generate heat energy which facilitates, at least in part, thechemical reaction of the alkaline hydroxide with the biomass to bedestroyed.

Still another aspect of the present invention relates to a method forrendering a contaminated biomass inert which includes providing a firstchemical reactor; supplying a source of an alkaline metal to the firstchemical reactor; providing a source of water and reacting the alkalinemetal and the water within the first chemical reactor to produce analkaline hydroxide; providing second, and third chemical reactors, andsupplying a portion of the alkaline hydroxide to the second and thirdchemical reactors; providing a source of a contaminated biomass which isto be rendered inert, and chemically reacting the alkaline hydroxidewith the source of the contaminated biomass within the second reactor toproduce an inert biomass, the alkaline metal, and a gaseous output, andwherein the alkaline metal is returned to the first chemical reactor andreacted again with the source of water to generate additional alkalinehydroxide; combusting the gaseous output to generate heat energy whichis delivered, at least in part, to the second and third chemicalreactors; providing a source of a hydrocarbon to the third reactor, andreacting the alkaline hydroxide and the hydrocarbon within the thirdchemical reactor under conditions which are effective to produce achemical hydride; providing a container and supplying the source ofwater, under pressure to the container; supplying the chemical hydrideto the container and reacting the chemical hydride with the water underpressure to produce a high pressure hydrogen gas, and the alkalinehydroxide; reusing the alkaline hydroxide, at least in part, in thesecond chemical reactor to react with the contaminated biomass to renderthe contaminated biomass inert, and in the third chemical reactor toreact with the hydrocarbon to generate additional chemical hydride whichis again reacted with the water in the container to produce additionalhigh pressure hydrogen gas; and storing the high pressure hydrogen gasfor use.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be discussed ingreater detail hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below withreference to the following accompanying drawing.

FIG. 1 is a greatly simplified schematic drawings illustrating anarrangement for producing hydrogen of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a greatly simplified schematic drawing illustrating anarrangement for rendering a biomass inert of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

This disclosure of the invention is submitted in furtherance of theconstitutional purposes of the U.S. Patent Laws “to promote the progressof science and useful arts” (Article 1, Section 8).

An arrangement which is useful in practicing one aspect of the presentinvention is designated by the numeral 10 and is seen in FIG. 1. Asillustrated therein, the methodology, as seen therein, and which isuseful in producing hydrogen, includes as a first step providing a firstcomposition hereinafter referred to as a supply of sodium hydroxide 11.The supply of sodium hydroxide 11 is coupled in fluid flowing relationrelative to a passageway or conduit which is generally indicated by thenumeral 12. This conduit or passageway couples the first composition orthe source of sodium hydroxide 11 in fluid flowing relation relative toa container which is indicated by the numeral 13. The source of sodiumhydroxide may be produced, at least in part, by the methodology which isseen in FIG. 2, and which will be described in further detailhereinafter. The container 13 is defined by a sidewall 14, and furtherincludes a top surface 15, and a bottom surface 20. Both of the top andbottom surfaces are attached to the sidewall 12 and further define aninternal cavity 21. First, second, third and fourth passageways orapertures 22, 23, 24 and 25 are formed through the sidewall 14, andcouple the internal cavity 21 in fluid flowing relation relative toother assemblies which will be discussed hereinafter. Still further, anaperture or passageway 26 is formed in the top surface 15. Thepassageway or conduit 12 is received in or through the first aperture22.

The supply of sodium hydroxide, as may be provided, at least in part, bythe methodology as seen in FIG. 2, and which constitutes a firstcomposition 11 is received in the cavity 21, and which is furtherdefined by the container 13. As will be discussed in greater detailhereinafter, the first composition 11 is chemically reacted with asecond composition, as will be described below, to produce a chemicalhydride which, when subsequently reacted with a liquid, produceshydrogen gas, and byproducts which include the first composition 11.Still further, the sodium hydroxide may be reacted with a contaminatedbiomass feedstock, as will be described hereinafter, to render it inertand to produce other by-products. This aspect of the invention will bediscussed in greater detail in the paragraphs which follow. Thus, bymeans of the present methodology, the first composition can be laterreused or recycled to form additional chemical hydride which is used inlater chemical reactions, or in the alternative can be reacted with acontaminated biomass as will become more apparent from the discussionwhich is found in the paragraphs below. The supply of sodium hydroxide11, and which is received within the internal cavity 21 of the container13, or which further is produced as a byproduct of the chemical reactiondiscussed, above, passes from the internal cavity 21 of the container 13through the second aperture 23, and is received within a chemicalreactor which is generally indicated by the numeral 30. The sodiumhydroxide 11 travels to the chemical reactor 30 by way of a conduit orother passageway 31. As will be discussed below, the sodium hydroxideprovides a source of sodium to the reaction which is disclosed. Itshould be recognized that sodium may be added to the system ormethodology as presently described at a number of different locations inorder to meet the needs of the chemical reactions. These locationsinclude directly at the chemical reactor 30, or further downstream inthe process, which will be discussed below, or further by means of themethodology which is best understood by a study of FIG. 2.

The methodology 10 of the present invention further includes the step ofproviding a source of a second composition 40 which provides a source ofhydrogen, and which is reacted with the first composition 11 to producea chemical hydride as will be described below. The second composition 40may include various hydrocarbons such as methane, which may suitablyreact with the first composition in order to release hydrogen which isutilized to form a resulting chemical hydride. The reaction which takesplace within reactor 30 is as follows: CH₄+NaOH→CO+Na+2.5H₂. Thischemical reaction and the methodology for implementing same is wellknown in the art and is discussed in significant detail in referencessuch as U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,235,235 and 6,221,310, the teachings of whichare incorporated by reference herein. The second composition or sourceof methane 40 is coupled in fluid flowing relation with the chemicalreactor 30, by way of a conduit or passageway 41. Therefore, themethodology of the present invention 10 provides a step whereby thefirst composition 11, which may include sodium hydroxide, and the secondcomposition 40, which may include methane are supplied to the chemicalreactor 30, and chemically react together to produce a chemical hydride,such as sodium hydride and other byproducts. The byproducts produced bythis chemical reaction of the first and second compositions 11 and 40may include undesirable compositions such as carbon monoxide, and thelike. Consequently, the methodology of the present invention 10 furtherincludes the step of providing a shift converter 50, and supplying thebyproducts which may include carbon monoxide to the shift converter, andchemically converting the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide within theshift converter. The shift converter 50 is coupled to the chemicalreactor 30 by way of a conduit or passageway 51. By employing themethodology as discussed in the previous prior art patents, some liquidsodium 41 may be drawn from the chemical reactor 30 and thereaftersupplied to other steps in the present invention. The remaining sodiumand hydrogen combine together to produce sodium hydride.

The methodology of the present invention 10 further includes a step ofproviding a separator 60 which is coupled in fluid flowing relationrelative to the shift converter 50 by way of a conduit or passageway 61.The separator 60 is operable to receive the resulting chemical hydridesuch as sodium hydride, and other byproducts produced by the reaction ofthe first composition 11, with the second composition 40, and provide aportion of the byproducts, which may include any remaining carbonmonoxide, and carbon dioxide produced as a result of the conversion ofcarbon monoxide to carbon dioxide which has occurred in the shiftconverter 50, to a burner 70. The burner is coupled to the separator 60by way of a conduit 71. The byproducts, which may include carbonmonoxide, carbon dioxide and some hydrogen are received in the burnerwhere they are consumed by combustion and produce resulting heat energy.This same burner may also receive Syngas produced by means of themethodology as seen in FIG. 2, and combust same to produce additionalheat. Moreover, this same heat produced by the burner 70, may bediverted, at least in part, and be delivered to a reactor, which will bedescribed hereinafter, and which receives contaminated biomass feedstockwhich is to be rendered inert. This heat energy produced by the burner70 forms a heat output which is generally indicated by the numeral 72.The heat output 72 is subsequently provided to the chemical reactor 30to increase the temperature of the first and second compositions 11 and40 which are chemically reacting within same in order to produce asource of chemical hydride 80, which may include sodium hydride, andvarious byproducts, or delivered to the aforementioned reactor whichwill be discussed in greater detail below.

The source of the chemical hydride 80, which may include sodium hydride,is coupled in fluid flowing relation relative to the internal cavity 21of the container 13 by way of a conduit or passageway 81. The source ofthe chemical hydride 80 passes into the internal cavity 21 by way of thefourth aperture or passageway 25. The methodology of the presentinvention 10 further includes the step of providing a source of a liquid90, such as water, and reacting the source of the chemical hydride 80with the liquid 90 in a manner which produces a high pressure hydrogengas, and a byproduct which includes the first composition 11. While thediscussion, above, indicates that the source of chemical hydride isprovided first, and then reacted with the water 90, it should beunderstood that this order of introduction is not important, and thesecompositions could be supplied in reverse order, or together to achievethe benefits of the present methodology 10. In this regard, the sourceof the liquid, such as water 90, is supplied by way of conduit 91 to acharging pump and which is generally indicated by the numeral 100. Thecharging pump 100 is further coupled by way of a conduit, or otherpassageway 101, to the container 13 where the liquid, such as water,passes into the internal cavity 21 by way of the third aperture orpassageway formed in the sidewall 14. The charging pump is operable tosupply the liquid, such as water, to the internal cavity and thenmaintain the liquid received within the cavity at a pressure of at least150 PSI.

In the method of the present invention 10, and following the step ofsupplying the source of the chemical hydride 80, such as sodium hydrideto the cavity 21 of the container 13, and mixing the source of liquid90, such as water, with same, a chemical reaction results that produceshigh pressure hydrogen gas 110, and other byproducts including the firstcomposition 11. As earlier discussed, the sodium hydroxide 11, which isgenerated as a result of this chemical reaction, may then be recycled orreused by exiting or passing from the container 13, and being returnedby way of the conduit or passageway 31 to the chemical reactor 30 whereit may be subsequently reacted with the second composition 40, which mayinclude additional methane, to produce a further chemical hydride suchas sodium hydride 80. As a result of the liquid pressure provided withinthe container 13, as maintained by the charging pump 100, a highpressure hydrogen gas 110 is produced.

The methodology of the present invention further includes the step ofproviding the source of high pressure hydrogen gas 110 produced in thecontainer 13 to a hydrogen dryer which is generally indicated by thenumeral 120. This dryer could be any type of commercial dryer. Thehydrogen dryer is utilized to remove any water, or other liquids whichmay be mixed with the high pressure hydrogen gas 110, thereby making itmore useful for particular applications. In the application as shown,the dryer could be a configuration of sodium which would react with anyremaining water to remove same from the high pressure hydrogen gas. Ifthis option is utilized, a hydrogen dryer would not be required. Asshould be understood, this hydrogen dryer may not be necessary forcertain applications because there are benefits to be derived fromhaving, for example, gaseous water mixed with the resulting highpressure hydrogen gas. This mixture would be useful, for example, as afuel which may be utilized in proton exchange membrane fuel cells, andthe like.

The methodology of the present invention 10 further includes the step ofwithdrawing the high pressure hydrogen gas 110 from the cavity 21 of thecontainer 13, and which has passed through the hydrogen dryer 120, andreceiving it in a storage container 130, where it may be subsequentlydrawn off, at high pressure and supplied as a fuel for various end uses.The high pressure hydrogen gas 110 exits the hydrogen dryer 120, and isreceived in the storage container 130 by way of a conduit 121.

The method of the present invention 10 further includes a step ofproviding an expansion engine 140, and coupling the expansion engine influid flowing relation relative to the cavity 21 of the container 13 byway of a conduit 141. The conduit 141 is coupled in fluid flowingrelation relative to the conduit 121 as seen in FIG. 1. As earlierdiscussed, the previous step of pressurizing the liquid, such as thewater 90, within the container 13, and mixing the source of sodiumhydride 80 with same, produces a high pressure hydrogen gas 110. As seenin FIG. 1, the high pressure gas 110, following treatment by thehydrogen dryer 120, is delivered to the expansion engine 140. Expansionengines are well known in the art and include internal turbines (notshown) and which, when exposed to the flow of the high pressure gas 110,produces a first mechanical output 142, and a second gas output 143having a reduced pressure and temperature. The mechanical output 142 ofthe expansion engine is converted into various power or work outputs 144which may include but are not limited to mechanical, electrical,hydraulic and others, and which are subsequently transmitted by way of atransmission pathway 144, or other force or work transmission means, toa refrigeration assembly which is generally indicated by the numeral150. The refrigeration assembly is of conventional design and is coupledin fluid flowing relation relative to the gas output 143 of theexpansion engine 140 by way of a fluid conduit or passageway 151. Theexpansion engine 140 is operable to generate, at least in part, thepower or work output necessary to energize or actuate the refrigerationassembly 150. The gas output 143 of the expansion engine 140, oncereceived by the refrigeration assembly 150 is further reduced intemperature thereby liquifying same. The liquified hydrogen gas 110 nowmoves from the refrigeration assembly to a storage container 160 by wayof a conduit or other passageway 161.

In the method 10, as described above, the step of pressurizing theliquid 90 includes pressurizing the liquid to a pressure which causesthe resulting high pressure hydrogen gas 110 to have a pressure of atleast 150 PSI. Still further, the step of supplying the high pressurehydrogen gas 110 to the expansion engine 140 comprises providing a gasoutput 143 having a reduced temperature of less than about 50° C., and apressure greater than about 1 atmosphere or ambient. In the embodimentas shown in FIG. 1, the expansion engine 140 may comprise aturbo-expander which is coupled in fluid receiving relation relative tothe high pressure hydrogen gas 110. In this arrangement, theturbo-expander generates an electrical power output which is transmittedby way of the transmission pathway 145, and which provides apreponderance of the electrical power, or work energy needed by therefrigeration assembly 150, to liquify the hydrogen gas 110. Theexpansion engine 140 in combination with the refrigeration assembly 150are operable to reduce the temperature of the high pressure hydrogen gas110 to at least about −200° F., and further reduce the pressure of thegas 110 to less than about 150 PSI.

A second aspect of the present invention relates to a method forrendering a contaminated biomass inert and which is generally indicatedby the numeral 200 in FIG. 2. As should be understood, the methodologyas seen in FIG. 2, can in one form, operate as a separate stand-alonemethod. Or alternatively, is operable to be coupled and cooperate invarious ways with the methodology 10 of the present invention as seen inFIG. 1. As should be understood, the methodology as seen in FIG. 2 isuseful for rendering a source of a contaminated biomass feedstock 201inert. The contaminated biomass may be contaminated with variouschemicals including hydrocarbons, and the like and which render it notuseful for human or other animal consumption or exposure. Thecontaminates that may render the biomass contaminated or dangerous forconsumption or exposure may be selected from the group comprisinghydrocarbon compounds containing fluorine; chlorine; bromine; iodine;metals; and metal oxides thereof. In the present methodology, as seen inFIG. 2, the method includes a first step of providing a firstcomposition which typically comprises a source of sodium 202. The sourceof sodium may be supplied solely or in part from the liquid sodium 41which is drawn off from the reactor 30, as was described by reference tothe methodology 10 as seen in FIG. 1, or may, in the alternative, besupplied from a separate source. The source of sodium or firstcomposition 202 is supplied to a sodium pump 203 of conventional designso that it may be moved or transferred to a first chemical reactor whichwill be discussed below. Still further, the method includes a secondstep of providing a second composition 204 which may comprise, in oneform, a contaminated/carbonaceous water source as indicated in FIG. 2,or alternatively, a source 205 of uncontaminated water. The secondcomposition 204/205 is delivered to a water pump 206 of conventionaldesign. The water pump 206 supplies the second composition comprisingeither or both of the contaminated or uncontaminated water to a firstchemical reactor 210 which is operated under high pressure (HP)conditions in order to react the first and second compositions, that is,sodium and water together to form a source of alkaline hydroxide (suchas sodium hydroxide) and other byproducts generally indicated by thenumeral 211. As seen in FIG. 2, a typical reaction in the first chemicalreactor is illustrated, however, it should be appreciated, and if acontaminated water input is supplied and which includes a hydrocarbon,for example, other byproducts could potentially be produced by thisreaction. The sodium hydroxide, and other byproducts which may includehydrogen gas, and carbon monoxide are received in a high pressure (HP)separator assembly 212. The high pressure separator, which is well knownin the art, is useful for separating the sodium hydroxide into a streamwhich is now indicated by the numeral 213, from the remaining Syngaswhich is now indicated by the numeral 214. In the present application,Syngas is defined as a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrocarbons whichare derived from hydrocarbon fuels. This first Syngas stream 214 issubsequently combusted to provide a heat source 215 which is supplied toa second chemical reactor 220 as will be described in greater detailhereinafter. Alternatively, the Syngas may be supplied directly to thesecond chemical reactor 214A in order to react with the contaminatedbiomass 201. The combustion of the Syngas 214, which may include otherbyproducts produces, a gas or liquid waste stream 216 which is thendisposed of in an environmentally acceptable fashion or further may besupplied or otherwise combined with the carbonaceous/ contaminated water204 and processed again.

As seen in FIG. 2, the methodology 200 broadly includes the steps ofproviding a contaminated biomass 201; and reacting the alkalinehydroxide 213 with the contaminated biomass 201 to render thecontaminated biomass inert and further produce hydrogen gas, and abyproduct which includes the first composition such as sodium 202. Inthis regard, the methodology of the present invention 200 includesanother step of providing a second chemical reactor 220; and deliveringthe alkaline hydroxide 213, and the contaminated biomass feedstock 201to the second chemical reactor 220. As seen in FIG. 2, the source of thealkaline hydroxide has a first course of travel 221 whereby the sourceof alkaline hydroxide 213 is delivered into the second chemical reactor220; and a second course of travel 222 whereby a portion of the alkalinehydroxide 213 may be utilized in the methodology 10 as seen in FIG. 1.Alternatively, alkaline hydroxide, such as sodium hydroxide 11 may besupplied from the methodology 10 to the methodology 200 as seen in FIG.2. As can be readily discerned from a study of FIG. 2, the combustion ofthe first stream of Syngas 214 produces a heat source 215 which issupplied to the second chemical reactor 220 in order to affect orotherwise facilitate the chemical reaction as identified in FIG. 2, thatis, the sodium hydroxide reacts with a contaminated biomass feedstock201 under the influence of heat, and pressure, to produce a secondstream of Syngas 223, which contains hydrogen, and sodium or otheralkaline metal 224 which is then delivered back to the sodium pump 203for use again in the first chemical reactor 210. The second stream ofSyngas 223, which may comprise carbon monoxide; hydrogen; and otherbyproducts may be combusted, at least in part, to provide the heatsource 215, which sustains or otherwise facilitates the chemicalreaction within the second chemical reactor 220. Still further, thissecond stream of Syngas may be diverted into another chemical process225 where it is catalytically reformulated into a predetermined specificproduct stream which may include various hydrocarbons depending upon thesource of contamination which effects the biomass feedstock. As shouldbe understood, this same catalytic reformulation of the second stream ofSyngas 223 could further be employed, at least in part, with the firstSyngas stream 214. It will be further understood, that the heat source215 may be additionally supplemented with heat energy as provided fromthe burner 70 as seen in FIG. 1. Still further, it should beappreciated, that the first and second streams of Syngas 214 and 223,respectively may be supplied in whole, or in part, to the burner 70 asseen in FIG. 1 to support the methodology 10.

A method for rendering a contaminated biomass inert, and which isgenerally indicated by the numeral 200, broadly includes a first step ofproviding a first composition 202/224, and a second step of providing asecond composition 204/205 and reacting the first and secondcompositions together to form a source of alkaline hydroxide 213. Themethod 200 further includes another step of providing a contaminatedbiomass 201, and reacting the alkaline hydroxide 213 with thecontaminated biomass 201 to render the contaminated biomass inert, andfurther produce hydrogen gas which is incorporated in the Syngas stream223; and a byproduct 224 which includes the first composition. Stillfurther, the methodology 200 of the present invention includes a step ofreusing or recycling the first composition 224 formed as a byproduct ina subsequent chemical reaction in the first chemical reactor 210 to formadditional alkaline hydroxide 213. In the methodology 200 as describedabove, the method includes another step of providing a first chemicalreactor 210, and wherein the step of reacting the first and secondcompositions 202/224 and 204/205 to form the alkaline hydroxide 213comprises delivering the first and second compositions to the firstchemical reactor. In the methodology as described above, the methodincludes another step of providing a second chemical reactor 220, andwherein the step of reacting the alkaline hydroxide 213 with thecontaminated biomass feedstock 201 further comprises delivering thealkaline hydroxide 213, and the contaminated biomass 201 to the secondchemical reactor 220. In the methodology as described above, the firstcomposition 202/224 comprises an alkaline metal, such as sodium, and thesecond composition comprises water 204/205, which may, or may not, becontaminated with other materials. In the methodology 200 as describedabove, and referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the method further comprises thesteps of providing a third chemical reactor 30; and supplying thealkaline hydroxide 11/213 to the third chemical reactor 30. Themethodology further includes another step of providing a source of ahydrocarbon 40; and reacting the source of the hydrocarbon 40 with thealkaline hydroxide 11/213 to produce a chemical hydride 80 and abyproduct.

In the methodology 200 as described above, and still referring to FIGS.1 and 2, the method includes a further step of reacting a source ofwater 90/205 with the chemical hydride 80 in a manner to produce a highpressure hydrogen gas 110, and the alkaline hydroxide 11/213. The methodincludes yet another step of providing a burner 70 and combusting, atleast in part, the hydrogen gas which forms a portion of the secondSyngas stream 223 and which is produced by the reaction of the alkalinehydroxide 213 with the contaminated biomass feedstock 201, to produceheat energy 72/215. This heat energy may be supplied in a subsequentstep, at least in part, to the second reactor 220, and the third reactor30 as seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively.

As seen in FIG. 1, the method 200 includes another step of providing acontainer 13, defining a cavity 21, and supplying the water 90 to thecavity of the container. The method 10 of the present invention furtherincludes another step of increasing the pressure of the water 90 withinthe container to a high pressure by means of a pump 100, and supplyingthe chemical hydride 11/213 to the cavity 21 of the container 13 tochemically react with the water 90, which is under high pressure, toproduce the high pressure hydrogen gas 110, and the alkaline hydroxide.In the methodology as seen at numeral 10 in FIG. 1, the method furtherincludes another step of utilizing the high pressure hydrogen gas 110,at least in part, to produce a work product. In this regard, themethodology as seen at numeral 10 includes a further step of providingan expansion engine 144, and coupling the expansion engine in fluidflowing relation relative to the high pressure hydrogen gas 110, andwherein the expansion engine 144 produces a hydrogen gas output 151having a reduced temperature and pressure, and which further generatesan electrical power output 145. The present methodology as seen atnumeral 10 includes another step of coupling the expansion engine 144 influid flowing relation relative to a refrigeration assembly 150, andwherein the hydrogen gas output having the reduced temperature, andpressure 151 is provided to the refrigeration assembly 150. Themethodology 10 further includes another step of energizing therefrigeration assembly, at least in part, by supplying the power output145 generated by the expansion engine 144 to further reduce thetemperature of the hydrogen gas output 151 to liquefy the hydrogen gas.

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method forrendering a contaminated biomass inert 200 which includes a first stepof providing a source of a contaminated biomass feedstock 201, and asecond step of providing a source of an alkaline hydroxide 213, andchemically reacting the contaminated biomass 201 with the alkalinehydroxide 213 to render the contaminated biomass feedstock inert and tofurther produce an alkaline metal 224, and a first gas which is withinSyngas stream 223. Still further, the method includes another step ofcombusting the first gas which is within stream 223 to produce a heatsource or energy 215 which facilitates, at least in part, the chemicalreaction of the alkaline hydroxide 213 and the contaminated biomassfeedstock 201. In the methodology 200 as described above, the methodfurther includes another step of catalytically reformulating the firstgas within stream 223 into a predetermined product stream. In thisregard, the first gas which is included within a second Syngas stream223 is selected from the group comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen;and wherein the step of catalytically reformulating the first gascomprises the creation of a specific product stream from the first gas223.

In the methodology 200 as described above, the step of providing asource of the alkaline hydroxide 213 further includes the steps ofproviding a first chemical reactor 210; providing a source of water204/205, and supplying the source of water to the first chemical reactor210; and further supplying the alkaline metal 202/224 to the firstchemical reactor 210 to form the source of the alkaline hydroxide 213.As seen by reference to FIG. 2, the source of water 205 may beuncontaminated. Still further, the source of water 204 may containcontaminants which are to be rendered inert along with the contaminatedbiomass feedstock 201. As noted earlier, the contaminants are selectedfrom the group comprising hydrocarbon compounds containing fluorine;chlorine; bromine; iodine; metals; and metal oxides thereof. Of course,the present methodology could be used with a wide range of contaminants.The preceding list of contaminants is merely exemplary. In thearrangement as seen in FIG. 2, the chemical reaction of the alkalinemetal 202/224, and the source of water 204/205 to produce the source ofthe alkaline hydroxide 213 generates a second gas which may be includedin the first Syngas stream 214, and wherein the method further comprisesthe step of combusting the first and second gases found within streams223 and 214, respectively, at least in part, to generate heat energy 215which facilitates, at least in part, the chemical reaction of thecontaminated biomass feedstock 201 which is to be rendered inert, withthe alkaline hydroxide 213. As earlier noted, the heat energy producedby the combustion of these gases may also be delivered, at least inpart, to the third reactor 30 as seen in FIG. 1. As earlier noted, thefirst and second gases which may be included in a first Syngas stream214, and a second Syngas stream 223 may comprise, at least in part,hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide.

In the present arrangement, as seen in FIG. 2, alkaline hydroxide 213,and the contaminated biomass feedstock 201 are chemically reactedtogether in the second chemical reactor 220 at a temperature of greaterthan about 275 degrees C., and a pressure of greater than about 5 poundsper square inch absolute. In the arrangement 200 as seen in FIG. 2, thestep of chemically reacting the contaminated biomass feedstock 201 withthe source of alkaline hydroxide 213 to produce the alkaline metal 224,and the first gas which is included within Syngas stream 223 furtherincludes the steps of providing a second reactor 220, and supplying thecontaminated biomass feedstock 201 and the source of the alkalinehydroxide 213 to the second reactor 220; and maintaining the secondreactor 220 at a temperature and a pressure which renders thecontaminated biomass 220 substantially inert, and which further producesthe first gas in stream 223, and the alkaline metal 224. As seen byreference to FIG. 2, the biomass which has been rendered inert formssolid waste 225 which is then disposed of in an environmentallyacceptable fashion. In the arrangement as seen in FIG. 2, the source ofheat or heat energy 215 generated from the combustion of the first gasand second gases in streams 223 and 214, respectively, is supplied, atleast in part, to the second reactor 20. In the methodology as seen inFIG. 2, it will also be recognized that the method 200 also includesanother step of separating the second gas from stream 214 from thesource of alkaline hydroxide 213 prior to the chemical reaction of thealkaline hydroxide 213 with the contaminated biomass feedstock 201.

Referring now to FIG. 1, it will be seen that the methodology 10includes the step of providing a third chemical reactor 30; andsupplying, at least in part, a portion of the alkaline hydroxide 213 tothe third chemical reactor. Still further, the method includes a step ofselecting a composition 40 which provides a source of hydrogen andsupplying the source of hydrogen to the third reactor 30. Still further,this method includes another step of providing conditions within thethird reactor 30 to react the alkaline hydroxide and the composition 40to produce a chemical hydride 80. Still further, the method includesanother step of providing a container 13 and supplying a source of water90 to the container under pressure; and reacting the chemical hydride 80with the water under pressure within the container 13 to produce highpressure hydrogen gas 110, and byproducts which include the alkalinehydroxide. The method 10 as described above, further includes anotherstep of supplying, at least in part, the alkaline hydroxide produced bythe reaction of the chemical hydride 80 with the water 90 back to thethird chemical reactor 30 for further reaction. In the arrangement asseen in FIG. 1, the composition 40 which provides the source of hydrogencomprises methane, and wherein one of the byproducts produced by thechemical reaction of the alkaline hydroxide 11/213 and the methane 40 toproduce the chemical hydride 80 comprises, at least in part, carbonmonoxide, and wherein the method further comprises providing a shiftconverter 50 where the byproducts, including the carbon monoxide, arechemically converted into carbon dioxide. As should be understood byreference to the paragraphs above, the alkaline hydroxide as utilizedherein can, in one form of the invention, comprise sodium hydroxide; andthe chemical hydride may comprise sodium hydride. The method as seen atnumeral 10 further includes the step of storing a portion of the highpressure hydrogen gas 110 for use in remote location 130/160; andcombusting a portion of the hydrogen gas to produce heat energy which isdelivered, at least in part, to the first 210, second 220, and third 330chemical reactors. In the methodology as described above, after the stepof chemically reacting the contaminated biomass feedstock 201 with thealkaline hydroxide 213 to render the contaminated biomass feedstockinert, the method further comprises a step of recovering or otherwiserecycling the alkaline metal 224 in the first chemical reactor 210 toproduce additional alkaline hydroxide 213.

Operation

The operation of the described embodiments of the present invention arebelieved to be readily apparent and are briefly summarized at thispoint.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, it will be seen that a method 200 forrendering a contaminated biomass 201 inert includes a first step ofproviding a first chemical reactor 210; and supplying a source of analkaline metal 202/224 to the first chemical reactor 210. Still further,the method 200 includes another step of providing a source of water204/205, and reacting the alkaline metal 202/224 with the water 204/205within the first chemical reactor 210 to produce a source of alkalinehydroxide 213. In the methodology 200 as seen in FIG. 2, the method 200includes another step of providing second, and third chemical reactors220 and 30 respectively, and supplying a portion of the alkalinehydroxide 213 to the second and third chemical reactors 220 and 30respectively. The method 200 includes another step of providing a sourceof a contaminated biomass 201 which is to be rendered inert, andchemically reacting the alkaline hydroxide 213, with the source of thecontaminated biomass 201 within the second reactor 220 to produce aninert biomass in the form of solid waste 225; the alkaline metal 224;and a gaseous output 223. In the arrangement as seen in FIG. 2, thealkaline metal 224 is returned or otherwise recycled to the firstchemical reactor 210 and chemically reacted again with the source ofwater 204/205 to generate additional alkaline hydroxide 213. In themethodology 200 as seen in FIG. 2, the method includes another step ofcombusting the gaseous output 223 to generate a heat source or heatenergy 215 which is delivered, at least in part, to the second and thirdchemical reactors 220 and 30 respectively. Still further, the method 10as seen in FIG. 1 further includes another step of providing a source ofa hydrocarbon 40 to the third reactor 30, and reacting the alkalinehydroxide 11/213, and the hydrocarbon 40 within the third chemicalreactor 30 under conditions which are effective to produce a chemicalhydride 80. In the methodology as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the methodfurther includes another step of providing a container 13, and supplyingthe source of water, such as 90/205 under pressure to the container 13;and further supplying the chemical hydride 80 to the container 13 andreacting the chemical hydride 80 with the water 90/205 under pressure toproduce a high pressure hydrogen gas 110, and the resulting alkalinehydroxide. In the methodology as seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the methodincludes another step of regenerating additional alkaline hydroxide, atleast in part, in the second chemical reactor 220 to react withadditional contaminated biomass 201 to render the contaminated biomassinert; and in the third chemical reactor 30 to react with additionalhydrocarbon 40 to generate additional chemical hydride 80 which is againreacted with the water 90/205 in the container 13 to produce additionalhigh pressure hydrogen gas 110. The methodology as described in thepresent application further includes the step of storing the highpressure hydrogen gas 130/160 for further use.

Therefore, it will be seen that the present invention provides manyadvantages over the prior art devices and methods which have beenutilized heretofore, and further is effective to produce chemicalhydrides which are useful in the production of hydrogen gas at remotelocations, and additionally is useful in the rendering of contaminatedbiomass inert for the purposes described above.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described inlanguage more or less specific as to structural and methodical features.It is to be understood, however, that the invention is not limited tothe specific features shown and described, since the means hereindisclosed comprise preferred forms of putting the invention into effect.The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the proper scope of the appended claimsappropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine ofequivalents.

1. A method for rendering a contaminated biomass inert, comprising:providing a first composition; providing a second composition; reactingthe first and second compositions together to form an alkalinehydroxide; providing a contaminated biomass and reacting the alkalinehydroxide with the contaminated biomass to render the contaminatedbiomass inert and further produce hydrogen gas, and a byproduct whichincludes the first composition.
 2. A method as claimed in claim 1, andfurther comprising: reusing the first composition formed as a byproductin a subsequent chemical reaction to form additional alkaline hydroxide.3. A method as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising: providing afirst chemical reactor, and wherein reacting the first and secondcompositions together to form the alkaline hydroxide comprisesdelivering the first and second compositions to the first chemicalreactor.
 4. A method as claimed in claim 1, and further comprising:providing a second chemical reactor, and wherein reacting the alkalinehydroxide with the contaminated biomass further comprises delivering thealkaline hydroxide and the contaminated biomass to the second chemicalreactor.
 5. A method as claimed in claim 4, and wherein the firstcomposition comprises an alkaline metal, and the second compositioncomprises water.
 6. A method as claimed in claim 5, and furthercomprising: providing a third chemical reactor; supplying the alkalinehydroxide to the third chemical reactor; providing a source of ahydrocarbon, and reacting the source of the hydrocarbon with thealkaline hydroxide to produce a chemical hydride and a byproduct.
 7. Amethod as claimed in claim 6 and further comprising: reacting a sourceof water with the chemical hydride in a manner to produce a highpressure hydrogen gas and the alkaline hydroxide; and reusing thealkaline hydroxide in a subsequent chemical reaction to form additionalchemical hydride.
 8. A method as claimed in claim 7, and furthercomprising: providing a burner and combusting, at least in part, boththe hydrogen gas produced by the reaction of the alkaline hydroxide withthe contaminated biomass, and the hydrogen gas produced by the reactionof the alkaline hydroxide, with the water, to produce heat energy; andsupplying the heat energy, at least in part, to the second and thirdreactors.
 9. A method as claimed in claim 7, and further comprising:providing a container defining a cavity; supplying the water to thecavity of the container; increasing the pressure of the water within thecontainer to a high pressure; and supplying the chemical hydride to thecavity of the container to chemically react with the water which isunder high pressure to produce the high pressure hydrogen gas and thealkaline hydroxide.
 10. A method as claimed in claim 9, and furthercomprising: utilizing the high pressure hydrogen gas, at least in part,to produce a work product.
 11. A method as claimed in claim 9, andfurther comprising: providing an expansion engine, and coupling theexpansion engine in fluid flowing relation relative to the high pressurehydrogen gas, and wherein the expansion engine produces a hydrogen gasoutput having a reduced temperature and pressure and which furthergenerates a power output; coupling the expansion engine in fluid flowingrelation relative to a refrigeration assembly, and wherein the hydrogengas output having the reduced temperature and pressure is provided tothe refrigeration assembly; and energizing the refrigeration assembly,at least in part, by supplying the power output generated by theexpansion engine to the refrigeration assembly to further reduce thetemperature of the hydrogen gas output to liquefy the hydrogen gas. 12.A method for rendering a contaminated biomass inert, comprising:providing a source of a contaminated biomass; providing a source of analkaline hydroxide, and chemically reacting the contaminated biomasswith the alkaline hydroxide to render the contaminated biomass inert andto further produce an alkaline metal, and a first gas; and combustingthe first gas to generate heat energy which facilitates, at least inpart, the chemical reaction of the alkaline hydroxide with the biomassto be destroyed.
 13. A method as claimed in claim 12, and furthercomprising: catalytically reformulating the first gas into apredetermined product stream.
 14. A method as claimed in claim 13 andwherein the first gas is selected from the group comprising carbonmonoxide and hydrogen; and wherein the step of catalyticallyreformulating the first gas further comprises the creation of a specifichydrocarbon product stream.
 15. A method as claimed in claim 12, andwherein providing a source of the alkaline hydroxide further comprises:providing a first chemical reactor; providing a source of water andsupplying the source of water to the first chemical reactor; andsupplying the alkaline metal to the first chemical reactor to form thesource of the alkaline hydroxide.
 16. A method as claimed in claim 15,and wherein the source of water is uncontaminated.
 17. A method asclaimed in claim 15, and wherein the source of water containscontaminants which are to be rendered inert along with the contaminatedbiomass.
 18. A method as claimed in claim 17, and wherein thecontaminants are selected from the group comprising hydrocarboncompounds containing fluorine; chlorine; bromine; iodine; metals; andmetal oxides thereof.
 19. A method as claimed in claim 15, and whereinthe chemical reaction of the alkaline metal, and the source of water toproduce the source of the alkaline hydroxide generates a second gas, andwherein the method further comprises: combusting the first and secondgases, at least in part, to generate heat energy which facilitates, atleast in part, the chemical reaction of the contaminated biomass whichis to be rendered inert, with the alkaline hydroxide.
 20. A method asclaimed in claim 19, and wherein the first and second gases comprise, atleast in part, hydrogen gas.
 21. A method as claimed in claim 19, andwherein the first and second gases comprise, at least in part, carbonmonoxide.
 22. A method as claimed in claim 15, and wherein the alkalinehydroxide, and the contaminated biomass are chemically reacted at atemperature of greater than about 275 degrees C., and a pressure ofgreater than about 5 pounds per square inch absolute.
 23. A method asclaimed in claim 15, and wherein chemically reacting the contaminatedbiomass with the alkaline hydroxide to produce the alkaline metal, andthe first gas further comprises: providing a second reactor andsupplying the contaminated biomass and the source of the alkalinehydroxide to the second reactor; and maintaining the second reactor at atemperature and a pressure which renders the contaminated biomass inert,and which produces the first gas, and the alkaline metal.
 24. A methodas claimed in claim 23, and wherein the heat energy generated from thecombustion of the first gas is supplied, and least in part, to thesecond reactor.
 25. A method as claimed in claim 23, and wherein thesecond reactor is maintained at a temperature of greater than about 275degrees C., and a pressure of greater than about 5 pounds per squareinch absolute.
 26. A method as claimed in claim 19, and furthercomprising: separating the second gas from the alkaline hydroxide priorto the chemical reaction of the alkaline hydroxide with the contaminatedbiomass which is to be rendered inert.
 27. A method as claimed in claim12, and further comprising: providing a third chemical reactor;supplying, at least in part, a portion of the alkaline hydroxide to thethird chemical reactor; selecting a composition which provides a sourceof hydrogen and supplying the source of hydrogen to the third reactor;providing conditions within the third reactor to react the alkalinehydroxide and the composition to produce a chemical hydride; providing acontainer and supplying a source of water to the container underpressure; reacting the chemical hydride with the water under pressurewithin the container to produce high pressure hydrogen gas, andbyproducts which include the alkaline hydroxide; and supplying, at leastin part, the alkaline hydroxide produced by the reaction of the chemicalhydride with the water back to the third chemical reactor.
 28. A methodas claimed in claim 26, and wherein the composition which provides thesource of hydrogen comprises methane, and wherein one of the byproductsproduced by the chemical reaction of the alkaline hydroxide and themethane to produce the chemical hydride comprises, at least in part,carbon monoxide, and wherein the method further comprises: providing ashift converter and supplying the byproducts which include the carbonmonoxide to the shift converter where the byproducts, including thecarbon monoxide are chemically converted into carbon dioxide.
 29. Amethod as claimed in claim 28, and wherein the alkaline hydroxide issodium hydroxide, and the chemical hydride comprise sodium hydride. 30.A method as claimed in claim 28, and further comprising: storing aportion of the high pressure hydrogen gas for use in remote location;and combusting a portion of the hydrogen gas to produce heat energywhich is delivered, at least in part, to the first, second, and thirdchemical reactors.
 31. A method as claimed in claim 15 and wherein afterstep of chemically reacting the contaminated biomass with the alkalinehydroxide to render the contaminated biomass inert, the method furthercomprises: recovering the alkaline metal and reusing the alkaline metalin the first chemical reactor to produce additional alkaline hydroxide.32. A method for rendering a contaminated biomass inert, comprising:providing a first chemical reactor; supplying a source of an alkalinemetal to the first chemical reactor; providing a source of water andreacting the alkaline metal and the water within the first chemicalreactor to produce an alkaline hydroxide; providing second, and thirdchemical reactors, and supplying a portion of the alkaline hydroxide tothe second and third chemical reactors; providing a source of acontaminated biomass which is to be rendered inert, and chemicallyreacting the alkaline hydroxide with the source of the contaminatedbiomass within the second reactor to produce an inert biomass, thealkaline metal, and a gaseous output, and wherein the alkaline metal isreturned to the first chemical reactor and reacted again with the sourceof water to generate additional alkaline hydroxide; combusting thegaseous output to generate heat energy which is delivered, at least inpart, to the second and third chemical reactors; providing a source of ahydrocarbon to the third reactor, and reacting the alkaline hydroxideand the hydrocarbon within the third chemical reactor under conditionswhich are effective to produce a chemical hydride; providing a containerand supplying the source of water, under pressure to the container;supplying the chemical hydride to the container and reacting thechemical hydride with the water under pressure to produce a highpressure hydrogen gas, and the alkaline hydroxide; reusing the alkalinehydroxide, at least in part, in the second chemical reactor to reactwith the contaminated biomass to render the contaminated biomass inert,and in the third chemical reactor to react with the hydrocarbon togenerate additional chemical hydride which is again reacted with thewater in the container to produce additional high pressure hydrogen gas;and storing the high pressure hydrogen gas for use.